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Northwest lawmakers may be wasting time on distracted-driving laws, U.S. Transportation survey shows

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When it comes to driving-with-a-phone techniques, this Southeast Portland driver is displaying what Hard Drive calls "the Captain Kirk." Just because it's not up to his ear doesn't mean it's legal.
(Joseph Rose/The Oregonian)

Of course, daydreaming or being "lost in thought" is responsible for more fatal U.S. car crashes than mobile-phone use, according to another study.

As Oregon lawmakers debate jacking up the fines on texting drivers in an effort curb the dangerous habit, a new U.S. Department of Transportation survey indicates that they may be wasting their time.

Despite a surge in states banning the use of handheld smartphones and other electronic devices behind the wheel, the number of people who admit doing it has held steady nationally since 2010, according to the poll.

At any given daylight moment in America, about 660,000 drivers are using cell phones or manipulating electronic devices while driving, the federal agency said in its report on the 2012 Distracted Driving Attitudes and Behavior Survey.

According to 6,016 interviews of drivers 16 and older (PDF), most support bans on hand-held cell phone use (74 percent) and texting while driving (94 percent). On average, these drivers thought the fines for these offenses should be at least $200.

However, nearly half of drivers said they answer an incoming call, while
one in four drivers are willing to place a call on “all, most, or some
trips.”

OSP citations for distracted driving

The number of Oregon drivers being cited on highways for violating the state law against texting and using mobile communication devices without handsfree equipment is on the rise. Here's the latest data from Oregon State Police:

Compared to 2010, slightly fewer are willing to make a
call while driving – 28 percent to 24 percent. But there is little if
any change in those who answer a call while driving -- 52 to 49 percent.

Considering that there are more than 212 million licensed
drivers in the America, the NHTSA extrapolated that data to mean about 102 million
drivers were answering calls and 50 million drivers were placing calls
while driving last year.

In Oregon, the maximum penalty is $500, with House Bill 2790 proposing an increase to $2,000. The typical base fine of $110 would increase to $435.

So far, 38 other states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands have enacted texting while driving. Meanwhile, nine other states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the Virgin Islands prohibit all drivers from using handheld cell phones while driving.

"Many drivers see distracted driving as risky when other drivers do it,” said NHTSA Administrator David Strickland, “but do not recognize how their own driving deteriorates."

That attitude may be catching on with police agencies in Oregon, who say they are becoming more aggressive with pulling over motorists spotted breaking the handsfree law.

Lt. Chris Davis with the Portland Police Bureau’s Traffic Division said his agency has started teaming up with other agencies from around the region and the Oregon State Police for monthly missions targeting motorists illegally using mobile devices.

“Patrol officers are also regularly pulling over and citing people they texting and talking on their phones” without a handsfree device, Davis said.

In 2011, the bureau wrote 4,372 citations for violations of ORS 811.507. Last year, they issued 4,459. So far in 2013, 1,125 are on the books.

Meanwhile, data from the Oregon State Police shows the law’s warnings-over-tickets honeymoon period has ended.

In 2012, troopers issued 2,151 tickets versus 1,878 warnings on the state’s highways. By comparison, they gave out 1,423 citations and 2,359 warnings in 2011. In 2010, the law’s first year, the OSP wrote 1,012 tickets and gave 2,515 warnings.

Last month, a Pemco Insurance poll found that most Northwest drivers considered themselves free from distractions, even as they worry about other motorists.

"This will be a long-term investment for
enforcement and education," said OSP Lt. Gregg Hastings. "Just like the safety belt law took several
years for Oregon to have one of the highest compliance rates, I think
it will be the same for this law and a change in driver behavior to
really grab hold."